Useful links
Software, databases and websites used by geologists — from mineralogy and petrography to GIS, geophysics and hydrogeology. Search by name or filter by field and type; all links open in a new tab.
Mineralogy and crystallography
- Mindat Database Free The largest database of minerals and localities, with photos. mindat.org
- Webmineral Database Free Mineral data sheets: chemistry, crystallography, physical properties. webmineral.com
- RRUFF Database Free Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction and chemistry of reference minerals. rruff.net
- RDRS SpectraLib Software The UAIC platform for Raman, FT-IR and XRD spectra: visualisation, processing and automatic database matching. rdrs.uaic.ro
- Handbook of Mineralogy Database Free The Handbook of Mineralogy data sheets, one per mineral (PDF). handbookofmineralogy.org
- Mineralienatlas Database Free Atlas of minerals, rocks and localities (German/English). mineralienatlas.de
- Crystallography Open Database Database Free Open crystal structures, as CIF files. crystallography.net
- IMA Organisation International Mineralogical Association: new minerals, nomenclature. ima-mineralogy.org
- VESTA Software Free 3D visualisation of crystal structures and morphology. jp-minerals.org
- Mercury Software Free Visualising and analysing crystal structures (CCDC). ccdc.cam.ac.uk
- Jmol Software Free Open-source molecular and crystal viewer. jmol.sourceforge.net
- CrystalMaker Software Commercial Crystal structure models and simulated diffraction. crystalmaker.com
- Match! Software Commercial Phase identification from powder X-ray diffraction. crystalimpact.de
- Profex Software Free Rietveld refinement (BGMN) and quantitative phase analysis. profex-xrd.org
- Gabbrosoft Software Free Spreadsheets to recalculate mineral formulae from analyses. gabbrosoft.org
Petrography and geochemistry
- GCDkit Software Free Processing and plotting whole-rock geochemical data (in R). gcdkit.org
- ioGAS Software Commercial Exploratory analysis of geochemical data for exploration. imdex.com
- pyrolite Software Free Python library for geochemistry: diagrams, normalisation. pyrolite.readthedocs.io
- Perple_X Software Free Phase diagrams and thermodynamic modelling of mineral assemblages. perplex.ethz.ch
- Theriak-Domino Software Free Mineral equilibria and pseudosections for metamorphic rocks. titan.minpet.unibas.ch
- MELTS Software Free Thermodynamic modelling of magma crystallisation. melts.ofm-research.org
- IsoplotR Software Free Geochronology: isochrons, U–Pb and Ar–Ar ages, plots. isoplotr.es.ucl.ac.uk
- GEOROC Database Free Chemical and isotopic compositions of igneous rocks. georoc.eu
- EarthChem Database Free Geochemical data portal (PetDB, SedDB and more). earthchem.org
- GERM Database Free Compositions of Earth reservoirs (Geochemical Earth Reference Model). earthref.org
- Alex Strekeisen Web resource Free Atlas of rocks and minerals in thin section (PPL and XPL). alexstrekeisen.it
- Virtual Microscope Web resource Free Virtual thin sections: rocks, meteorites, lunar samples. virtualmicroscope.org
- Sandatlas Web resource Free Photos and explanations of rocks, minerals and sands. sandatlas.org
Structural geology and tectonics
- Stereonet Software Free Stereographic projections for structural data. rickallmendinger.net
- FaultKin Software Free Kinematic analysis of faults and slickensides. rickallmendinger.net
- Orient Software Free Stereonets, orientation diagrams and fabric analysis. docvsoft.com
- OpenStereo Software Free Open-source stereographic projection program. github.com
- MOVE Software Commercial 2D/3D structural modelling and section restoration. petex.com
- GPlates Software Free Plate reconstructions through geological time. gplates.org
- StraboSpot Software Free Digital field notebook for structural and petrological data. strabospot.org
- Visible Geology Web resource Free Interactive 3D geological models in the browser, for learning. visiblegeology.com
GIS, maps and remote sensing
- GeoloGIS Software The UAIC geological map platform: maps of Romania (1:200,000, 1:1,500,000), critical minerals, mineral occurrences and more than 900 3D models of rocks and minerals. geologis.uaic.ro
- QGIS Software Free Complete open-source GIS: maps, spatial analysis, georeferencing. qgis.org
- GRASS GIS Software Free Advanced raster and vector analysis, terrain models. grass.osgeo.org
- SAGA GIS Software Free Terrain and hydrological analysis from elevation models. saga-gis.sourceforge.io
- ArcGIS Software Commercial Esri's GIS platform (ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online). esri.com
- Global Mapper Software Commercial GIS for terrain data, LiDAR and format conversion. bluemarblegeo.com
- Surfer Software Commercial Contour maps, gridding and surface models. goldensoftware.com
- Google Earth Pro Software Free The virtual globe: historical imagery, measurements, KML files. google.com
- Macrostrat Database Free Geological maps and stratigraphic columns worldwide. macrostrat.org
- Rockd Software Free Mobile app: the geological map under your feet. rockd.org
- GeoMapApp Software Free Geoscience maps and data, especially marine. geomapapp.org
- EarthExplorer Database Free Landsat imagery, elevation models, aerial photos (USGS). earthexplorer.usgs.gov
- Copernicus Browser Database Free Free Sentinel imagery in the browser (EU). browser.dataspace.copernicus.eu
- OpenTopography Database Free High-resolution LiDAR and elevation models. opentopography.org
- SNAP Software Free Processing Sentinel satellite imagery (ESA). step.esa.int
Stratigraphy and palaeontology
- Scara timpului geologic (ICS) Web resource Free The official International Chronostratigraphic Chart. stratigraphy.org
- TimeScale Creator Software Free Custom stratigraphic charts and columns. timescalecreator.org
- Paleobiology Database Database Free Fossil occurrences, taxonomy and palaeoecology worldwide. paleobiodb.org
- Mikrotax Database Free Microfossil taxonomy: foraminifera, nannofossils, radiolaria. mikrotax.org
- WoRMS Database Free World Register of Marine Species, fossils included. marinespecies.org
- PAST Software Free Statistics for palaeontology and the Earth sciences. nhm.uio.no
Geophysics and seismology
- USGS Earthquakes Database Free Earthquakes worldwide, in real time. earthquake.usgs.gov
- EMSC Database Free Earthquakes in Europe and the Mediterranean, in real time. emsc-csem.org
- INFP Organisation National Institute for Earth Physics: Romania's seismicity. infp.ro
- EarthScope Organisation Seismological and geodetic data (formerly IRIS and UNAVCO). earthscope.org
- ObsPy Software Free Python library for seismological data. github.com
- GMT Software Free Generic Mapping Tools: scientific maps and figures. generic-mapping-tools.org
- OpendTect Software Free 2D/3D seismic interpretation (open-source). dgbes.com
Hydrogeology and environment
- MODFLOW Software Free The standard groundwater flow model (USGS). usgs.gov
- ModelMuse Software Free Graphical interface for MODFLOW models. usgs.gov
- PHREEQC Software Free Speciation, water–rock reactions and reactive transport. usgs.gov
- Visual MINTEQ Software Free Chemical equilibria, metal speciation, sorption in natural waters. vminteq.com
Wellsite geology, petroleum and resources
- SLB Energy Glossary Web resource Free The oil and gas industry dictionary. glossary.slb.com
- Petrel Software Commercial Subsurface interpretation and modelling (SLB). slb.com
- Leapfrog Geo Software Commercial 3D geological models for mining and hydrogeology. seequent.com
- RockWare Software Commercial RockWorks, LogPlot and more for boreholes and 3D models. rockware.com
- LogPlot Software Commercial Borehole logs and lithological columns. rockware.com
- OnePetro Database Technical papers of the petroleum industry (SPE and others). onepetro.org
Data, statistics and programming
- R Software Free Statistics and graphics language (GCDkit, IsoplotR run in R). r-project.org
- Python Software Free The most used language for geological data processing. python.org
- Jupyter Software Free Interactive notebooks: code, plots and text together. jupyter.org
- OriginLab Software Commercial Scientific graphs and data analysis. originlab.com
In Romania
- Institutul Geologic al României Organisation Geological maps, collections, geological and geophysical research. igr.ro
- ANRM Organisation National Agency for Mineral Resources. namr.ro
- GeoEcoMar Organisation National Institute of Marine Geology and Geoecology. geoecomar.ro
- Muzeul Geologic Național Organisation National Geological Museum, Bucharest. geology.ro
- Societatea Geologică a României Organisation The professional association of Romanian geologists. geosociety.ro
International organisations
- IUGS Organisation International Union of Geological Sciences. iugs.org
- EGU Organisation European Geosciences Union (the Vienna General Assembly). egu.eu
- AGU Organisation American Geophysical Union. agu.org
- Geological Society of London Organisation The oldest geological society in the world (1807). geolsoc.org.uk
- GSA Organisation Geological Society of America. geosociety.org
- SEG Organisation Society of Economic Geologists: ore deposits. segweb.org
- SGA Organisation Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits. e-sga.org
- AAPG Organisation American Association of Petroleum Geologists. aapg.org
- Geochemical Society Organisation The international geochemistry society. geochemsoc.org
Learning and outreach
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Know a useful tool that is missing? Write to us at geology@uaic.ro.
